Curated OER
Insulators and Conductors
Fourth graders experiment to discover which items are conductors and which items are insulators. In this insulators and conductors instructional activity, 4th graders experiment and create a T-Chart. Students are assessed on the...
Curated OER
Junkyard Wars-Investigating More Electromagnets
Fourth graders conduct an investigation in order to determine a way to change the strength of an electromagnet's magnetic force. After conducting "control" lifts with their electromagnet, groups make initial changes, record data, and...
Curated OER
Food Webs
Fourth graders discover how organisms depend upon each other in an ecosystem. In this ecosystems lesson plan, 4th graders use food webs to discuss the interdependence between organisms in an ecosystem.
Curated OER
The Invention of the Telegraph
Students study the history of telegraph invention. In this technology lesson, students build their own Morse Telegraph System. They discuss how this invention benefits the society.
Curated OER
Transistor Hunt
Learners locate transistor devices in school. They explain the importance of transistors.
Curated OER
Making A Compass
This interesting science instructional activity is about the compass. Students make a compass out of a magnet, sewing needle, cork, and a glass dish. The instructional activity includes both a pre and post-test for the students to take,...
Curated OER
Red Shift, Blue Shift
Pupils demonstrate how stellar spectra measures a star's motion relative to Earth along the line of sight.
Curated OER
How is the Strength of an Acid Determined?
Young scholars study acids and how they can be measured. In this acid lesson students distinguish the properties that create strong and weak electrolytes.
Curated OER
The Discovery of Ohm's Law
Students study Georg Ohm and how he changed mathematics with his law. In this experimental evidence and stastics lesson students complete an experiment on the characteristics of Ohm's law.
Curated OER
Moisture Lesson Plan
Learners investigate the effects of moisture and dampness on homes, clothing, and mold growth. In this moisture activity, students discuss which certain cities are damper than others based on location and geography. They talk about the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: From Sunlight to Electric Current
The lesson will first explore the concept of current in electrical circuits. Current will be defined as the flow of electrons. Photovoltaic (PV) cell properties will then be introduced. This will lead to the principle of "Conservation of...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Electric Switches
Lesson focuses on how switches control the flow of electricity. Students are posed with the challenge of designing and building a simple switch into an electric circuit.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Electric Circuits Guided Inquiry
An electrical circuit guided inquiry where students investigate what an electric circuit is, the main parts of a circuit and the difference between series and parallel circuits. Students groups create a circuit using materials provided...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Current Electricity Lights On
An exploratory lesson plan that provides the learners with a chance to discover the possible connections in an electrical circuit in a controlled setting.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Introduction to Open and Closed Electrical Circuits
This activity introduces students to the concepts of electrical current and open and closed circuits. Students will act out open and closed circuits as a whole class with some students acting as the "motors" or "light bulbs."
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Ph Et Simulations: Replace Real Equipment in Lab Circuit Construction Kit
Students explore with a PhET interactive simulation to replicate the construction of electrical circuits.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Comparing Current Intensities of Series, Parallel, and Complex Circuits
Students will investigate the differences of current in series, parallel, and complex circuits through the construction of a small house containing the different types of circuits.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Flowing Electrons
For this fifth grade activity, students explore electric circuits by acting out different types, then construct circuits themselves.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Magnets and Electricity: Creating Magnetism With Electricity
Students will work in small groups to design at least one complete circuit using multiple materials. They will record their observations of how they created an electrical circuit using diagrams and notes in their journals. Using a...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Electricity
In this interactive activity, students will explore electricity and be able to design and create a complete electrical circuit. Students will also learn what is necessary to light a light bulb. Creative thought, ideas, and, brainstorming...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Series and Parallel Circuits
The core of this lesson is simple circuits and the differences between parallel and series circuit design. Students perform experiments to test the differences between the two circuit designs using low voltage light bulbs.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Electricity: Building Circuits in Elementary Science Class
In this exploration activity, students compare the difference between series circuits and parallel circuits using wire, light bulbs, and D batteries.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Electron Current Flow
A teacher lesson plan which could be easily converted into an idea for a student project or presentation. This page describes an activity in which the water-electricity analogy is used to investigate the relationship between current,...
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Series and Parallel Circuits
A teacher lesson plan which could be easily converted into an idea for a student project or presentation. Ideal for pre-high school learners. This page describes an activity in which the history of electric circuits, the nature of...